Meckel's diverticulum: a surgical dilemma?

In spite of the fact that Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital abnormality of the small bowel, there is considerable controversy concerning its surgical management. Resection of a symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum is not a common operation in the experience of most general surgeons. As illustrated by the cases presented in this series, the indications for operation are usually clear. Should abdominal exploration routinely include a search for a Meckel's diverticulum and should it be resected in the absence of symptoms? Although there is no compelling evidence to support the opinion that an asymptomatic Meckel's diverticulum constitutes a major threat to the future well-being of a patient, it is apparent that incidental removal is associated with minimal risk of complications. What are the medicolegal implications? A series of 13 patients is presented to review the salient features of this interesting anomaly, together with pertinent comments from the literature.